My Genealogy Hound

Below is a family biography included in The History of Macon County, Tennessee published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1887.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

* * * *

Hon. M. N. Alexander, attorney at law and farmer near La Fayette, was born in Allen County, Ky., April 11, 1819. He is the son of Mayben and Margaret (Wygal) Alexander. His father was a native of Mecklenburg County, N. C., and was born in 1788. The grandfather was Andrew Alexander. He served in the war of the Revolution under Col. Mayben, in Gen. Lincoln’s command, and was captured at the surrender of Charleston, S. C. He removed to Allen County, Ky., in 1801, where he died a few years after. Mayben (who was named for the Colonel mentioned above) was married in Allen County, Ky., in 1811, and made that his future home as a tiller of the soil. He died in 1848. The mother was a native of Virginia, born in 1788, and died about 1856, a member of the Methodist Church. Her husband was also a member and a class-leader. Hon. M. N. Alexander received his early education at the common schools. In 1840 he went to Watertown, Wilson Co., Tenn., and attended school about two years. He then went to Milton, Rutherford County, and studied medicine two years, but abandoned that and went to Nashville, Tenn., in 1847, and began the study of law. In1848 he moved to Macon County, where he continued his study, and was licensed to practice in 1849, but did not begin until 1852. He entered as a partner with Hon. S. M. Fite, of Carthage, with whom he remained three years, since which time he has practiced alone. He is the oldest practitioner in Macon County, having practiced for over thirty-four years. In 1870 he was elected circuit court clerk of Macon County, and held the office four years. In 1881 he was commissioned by Gov. Hawkins to hold a special term of the chancery court at Smithville, DeKalb County. He was also county superintendent of Macon County schools between 1879 and 1883, which position he held with distinction and credit. In 1842 he married Miss Minerva C., daughter of Rev. and Lurana Pickett, of Wilson County. By this union eight children were born, Matthew N. being the only one living. Mrs. Alexander died in 1880, a member of the Christian Church. In 1883 Mr. Alexander married Miss Sallie, daughter of Dr. David and Margerie (Hemphill) Graham. She was born in 1840, and a native of Carroll County, Ohio. Her father was a native of Ireland and her mother of Pennsylvania. Mr. and Mrs. Alexander are faithful members of the Christian Church, of which he has been an elder for some years. He was formerly a Whig, casting his first presidential vote for W. H. Harrison, in 1840. Since the war he has been a strong Republican, and a long standing and active member of the Masonic fraternity. Mr. Alexander owns a farm of 160 acres under a good state of cultivation and improvement.

* * * *

This family biography is one of 24 biographies included in The History of Macon County, Tennessee published in 1887.  The History of Macon County was included within The History of Sumner, Smith, Macon & Trousdale Counties of Tennessee. View the complete description here: History of Sumner, Smith, Macon and Trousdale Counties of Tennessee

View additional Macon County, Tennessee family biographies here: Macon County, Tennessee

Use the links at the top right of this page to search or browse thousands of other family biographies.